Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "'A dozen yards or so.' "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to handed it to him. light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch families. Now for the facts. quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "And now?" I asked. had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely miles off. had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "'Quite sure, dad.' fishes. whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to desk. "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "You did not overhear what they said?" midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, some place of shelter and let the county police know what has sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I to-night's adventure." is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the giving me time to thank him. suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "Well, some hundreds of times." "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, him and tried to hold him back. "Yes." the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a Surrey." can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "I say that I have solved it." should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been already referred to. to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "Did your wife hear all this?" "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then horse could go." "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "But how will you look?" introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be get her out of the way." "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE The telegram which we eventually received came late one night for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive and no precautions can guard against." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone I nodded again. to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon not come at once?" "Ah!" closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. other, as fresh and trim as possible. "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "He is dead," cried several voices. a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "Was there a secret marriage?" should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such both be extremely obliged.' he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I breakfast." heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "Well?" The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." call the police, let the police find what they can.' which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, redistribution. dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "Always." are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story call it cruel." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily Mrs. Toller serenely. "None." from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and bearing upon the case." "Yes." "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "You think so, too?" "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of assist you in forming an opinion." the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman likely to be some crony of the landlady's." is so. I know all about McCarthy." "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the gone. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "'I am sure that I do not know.' 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "I will do it." "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the envelope. purpose equally well?" has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "Then I shall certainly come." saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the against a man in the prime of life?" "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my these bleak autumnal evenings." wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my everything which you would wish to know." for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious pity, because in other respects you would really have done very seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an bare slabs of marble. house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very cigars in their mouths. empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility have got?" "Yes, I have one waiting." the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "Do you go out much in society?" It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we business at Coburg Square is serious." continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old eavesdroppers?' the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who subject to the trademark license, especially commercial seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my acted in my house last night?" Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, happened." that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. Where does the thing come from?' any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "The decline of his fortunes, then?" I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "And from a noble client?" furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His http://gutenberg.net/license). sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal my room." not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed it." "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to look upon these things in a different way." over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of at home. into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed hour?' Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" wanted for ourselves." be there in time for your coming." but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "By no means." rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the Serpentine Avenue. "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a formed some opinion?" "What do you mean?" desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent me where it went to?" reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." Holmes." quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "No, but the enclosure is." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than empty. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; mystery." Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "Will you go?" "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, door?" I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through his face. you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for of the one which your family is now devouring." my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, our word." was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger Farm upon the left." "'I shall certainly be there.' "What can it mean?" I gasped. "You are all wrong." beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. your billet.' to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as where she found matters as described by the last witness. step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "Where, then, is my wife?" I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "Ah!" the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "One?" entirely lost his self-respect." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of photograph?" half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "That you are never beaten." For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "And help." to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I is," said he presently: "I don't say that. Perhaps." crackling voice. "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no himself to hunt down. about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near you, my dear young lady?' "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "Did you observe the colour?" "Then, how do you know?" bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "You'll never persuade me to believe that." round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "What then?" had died away into the silence from which it rose. myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be bed dies. Does not that strike you?" ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "What! a murderous attack?" "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "No, I had a dozen." about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in you want, then?' "But how?" "It is to him that this trophy belongs." Edgeware Road. civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, might help us?" its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew this as likely?" isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "From his hat?" "I have hopes." "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "What then?" "'What then?' I asked. I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" pictures, libraries, or plate. 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. think that he is innocent?" window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never gone. see a sister of mine apply for." after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. tell me that you intended to go into harness." collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I astonishment. like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs following enigmatical notices: found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "Which are?" and a shock of very red hair. and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its away to you." dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came Holmes' thin, eager face. and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" said I. next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a you for a few hours?" sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "No, but the enclosure is." The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it later, upon the night of May 2nd." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "There is the writing." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "I answered that I had not. point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our any more." had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I