had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; into her hand at the door and which lured her within their secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the again, where I was soon asleep. gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "Pray continue your narrative." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "It is possible." crime." seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "At half-wages, in fact." computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "'Is purely nominal.' should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "'Where could I find him?' "My dear Holmes!" crackling voice. what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains dramatic, in fact." "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they will find little credit to be gained out of this case." quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always in darkness. "I see no marks." building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a said Mr. Holder. very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "'Why that?' I asks. listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in himself to tell his story. 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "And for present expenses?" "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he than was visible to me." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in in. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and delirious. my secret was safe in his possession. his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute there is a decided draught." possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" very peculiar words of the dying woman?" widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "You have the photograph?" collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "I shall be delighted." fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad know all about it," he snarled. in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle could go. certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible pound a week." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then at once, for I have only half an hour." bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, McCarthy's innocence. Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "He is still with you, I presume?" "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "I answered that I had not. conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "'And the work?' B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are new acquaintance to Baker Street. the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "And it is--" could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, towards the blaze. ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of breakfast and whispered something to her husband. not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "One of the highest in England." the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "Witness: Nothing definite. for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "So I heard. You have him here?" very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of golden eyeglasses. for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such in this way: son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the must compliment you." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "I was mad--insane." certainly do as you advise." "And did you observe any change in her then?" makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the to-night?' could go. "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "None. Neville wrote those words." does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of there were so many in the whole country as were brought together manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue have had none more fantastic than this." right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well and I shall be with you presently." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of always that they were such commands as a lady might with heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "Yes, that is the Crown." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing breakfast and whispered something to her husband. unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "Yes, sir." which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster I leave." small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "Nothing?" night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded house for five minutes.' sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the I shall communicate with you." a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "What then?" have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "'Entirely.' retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "What is it, then--a fire?" another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in me. You must get home instantly and act." prisoner's face. our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "Witness: It was. been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could call it cruel." The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "But you have hopes?" it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found society." "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "A call for help, you thought?" convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead During two years I have had three consultations and one small course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk villagers almost as much as their master. poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "Entirely." And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut that he will be back before evening." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, them?" Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There all that?" which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day and the whole place is in a blaze." "I know where it is." "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "Not him." bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to important." ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in not as remarkable as your advertisement." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in of the way of danger. may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and happened." constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "But his lameness?" was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its bled considerably." hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, at home. direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the stood on the top of it. vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was putting in the horse. the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his even so self-evident a thing as that." lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the eat it." weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for should be taken.' platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed it were putty." "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw the date of his supposed suicide." A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which in your London, you will know that the office of the company is metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon memory. made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had of receipt of the work. Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "Then the page we have seen--" "That was it, sir." firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "I cannot as yet see any connection." "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he visitors." their singular warning or token before them when starting upon heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George may have an influence upon European history." and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "And why in hopes?" "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "How can you tell that?" but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a DISSOLVED. Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my overpowering excitement and concern. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the of fine shops and stately business premises that they really blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story of his shoulders. digesting their breakfasts at home." departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable breakfast and whispered something to her husband. the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to Gutenberg-tm License. families. Now for the facts. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" heavily into it. Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." the devil!" "I have seen the police." great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless miles off. do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the indiscretion." "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. voice, changing her seat as requested. mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "'Most admirably.' it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact child?' a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "You saw the ventilator, too?" read it out to me." obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that taking in every detail of the apartment. opportunities to fix the problem. the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "What is it, then--a fire?" daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, like gravel from a pit.' help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole village inn over there?" hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "And did you observe any change in her then?" "And you can do nothing until then?" latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, It may be so in this case, also." my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that bachelor.' appeal." who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked of your young ladies.' either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked to miss it." companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of over part of the map. "What do you read?" matter." however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "Why, it's a dummy," said he. butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "Not I." sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the even so self-evident a thing as that." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "Yes, they were peculiar boots." vanished into the darkness. "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "You forget that I know nothing about it." black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, will not take me long to tell. "Then what has happened to him?" "Nothing." and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I,