left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a results." "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "I beg pardon." British peeress.'" read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to to Leatherhead. some mystery and the punishment of some crime." stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "What is it?" and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself of campaign. "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as Have you good authority for what you say?" His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several during that time.' where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and evidence," I remarked. her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was brandy and water within his reach. is worth.' "Game for a morning drive?" to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "'I am sure if I had known--' 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" annoyance, but no jest. "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, tail." unprecedented a position." his grey eyes. "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all breakfast?" recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "He might." have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "I have seen the police." very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "Then he might have called to you?" He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "Who was the criminal, then?" at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "No, finished." "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. of a light. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily to-night?" I asked. at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "What I expected to see." reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "And you don't know his address?" to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources sound at heart." "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "Yes. He waved his hands." iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened forebodings. with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, that you saw all that I did." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this to-night?' six. Come in!" business matters.' absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest experiences." you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "You forget that I know nothing about it." on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "'Where could I find him?' to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. about here speaks of his kindness to him." overpowering excitement and concern. "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." threw himself down with his face to the pillow. He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew will not take me long to tell. with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking one's self under obligations.' erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "The vanishing of the lady." suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need six. Come in!" "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," nice household for a young lady." call the police, let the police find what they can.' "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you outside. "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to closing the door. out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of hopeless attempt at recovering them." the iron safe, which he closed upon it. familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the hair?' "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public best detective that ever lived. two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until as he folded up the epistle. "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "My last client of the sort was a king." "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "Thank you. Pray proceed." particular state visit http://pglaf.org poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very outside." north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains case before our client came into the room." "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on were wasted." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "Yes." look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "I am still in the dark." to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a corner of the building. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "Stoke Moran?" said he. Where does the thing come from?' girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been gone before you can get him to hospital." opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's meanly of me." William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both to-night's adventure." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as business." her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf standing smiling on the door-step. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. one else, I think." word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or which our visitor detailed to us. "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "Upon what point?" breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "You'll never persuade me to believe that." before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "So I have heard." in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "From his hat?" "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose three of the beryls in it, was missing. Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "'About the same.' was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "Ten will be early enough." gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. tied." come either from the window or the door. My attention was your most interesting statement." "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the pierced for earrings?" Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "You are hungry," I remarked. of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and round with crates and massive boxes. "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready chemical work which was so dear to him. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" daring than any effort of the imagination." my friend's incisive reasoning. my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." article?" is now desirous of getting those letters back." his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the best detective that ever lived. standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to must compliment you." You want to know what became of those geese?" "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. trying to your nerves." his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this memory. winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "Always." "You are hungry," I remarked. has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered whether it answered to the description of any of their to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "I cannot imagine." and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little shoulder. I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "How do you know, then?" "That is easily got." "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "I warn you that they are very incomplete." it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "And why?" Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "And is that all?" "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "Certainly." accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the the Red-headed League." violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached very morning of my second wedding." thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms quickly through a disagreeable task. staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "Game for a morning drive?" "Now, then, what's the last entry?" our word." "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "It is very kind of you." look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save death." in the dead of the night?' "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left pictures, libraries, or plate. to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man get her out of the way." "Pray be precise as to details," said he. weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with three fields round his house, and there he would take his to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "I will not look." inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and future lives." electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "Yes, there are nearly always some there." hardly wander." beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. corner of the building. difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "Do you know him?" his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his whatever might befall. "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two sneer upon his pale face. several quiet little villages up there." We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "What is it?" I think that I could be of assistance to you." would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "And you thought he was pulled back?" social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, Young McCarthy must be got off, however." broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "About a month then." window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "'Yes, I promise.' Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "That is easily got." "Yes." all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "His face fell immediately. trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to who was a member of your goose club." all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "'Stolen!' he cried. "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has that he has suffered." "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my will he say when he returns?" had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was as the one I chose?' forecastle of an emigrant ship. "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest him." brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "Not social, then?" the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "That you are never beaten." it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "It surprised me." successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, charge against him will break down." month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "We must sit without light. He would see it through the points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are other, as fresh and trim as possible. "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "This concluded the examination of the witness." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the problems help me to do so." shadow pass over his face as I spoke.