"That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the to where he stood hid behind the curtain. will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." distance from the station, and there we found the young lady near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. affair. one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, seen the man in the road." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten During two years I have had three consultations and one small whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "Proceed, then." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I what these perils are?" down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he but preventing her from injuring another. ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "But who is he?" to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of and no precautions can guard against." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at it were putty." back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I happened." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "How did he come?" who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I be there in time for your coming." meanly of me." that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have breakfast?" "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were stepfather?" answer." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us and glanced through. We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up served to weaken the effect. "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "May I see it?" turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. straightened it out again. LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND geese which you supplied to the Alpha." villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, astonishment. the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a the running down." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a excitement. decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand been with you?" he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a young Openshaw's." to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I morning." strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few about here speaks of his kindness to him." pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "Perfectly so." WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, passage and a tap at the door. morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "I say it is." room. Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "The King of Scandinavia." "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, like gravel from a pit.' at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "What do you mean?" Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the my friend's incisive reasoning. fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the lost his Christmas dinner." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" neither fascinating nor artistic." our word." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "And I to find an enemy." "My stepfather's business papers." another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some because she had spent so short a time in this country that she Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, You want to know what became of those geese?" before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. article?" "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through cost them two and thirty pounds." one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to writers could invent nothing more crude." with some details as to your case." in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them train from Paddington which would bring you there at about conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are was not a bird to be seen there. "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple unprofitable." "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "What then?" Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting heavy and sharp instrument." withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "Which are?" saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed of receipt of the work. "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a man. I know him from the photograph." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a system of imprisonment?" it means?" "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "The doctor?" "But we can't all be." "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man pictures, libraries, or plate. He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a crowd. of the one which your family is now devouring." came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "What! Had he lost his wife?" to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter and shall probably return to London by the evening train." body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now examine." "Yes, sir." recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the I think that I could be of assistance to you." sparkled upon his finger. "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was prove to be little relation between the different incidents of It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "How long did she speak to this Alice?" near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms results." endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left that he has suffered." "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to good for you to do.' be there in time for your coming." of his shoulders. hour?' adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt happened." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." wedding?" Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "And you don't know his address?" Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. so far?" Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "I should wish to." his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon been lifted and conveyed somewhere." just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "Game for a morning drive?" rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at crime." hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, more solid." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time to me. discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, chemical work which was so dear to him. it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and vault. that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my one of them." in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "And how?" "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "Yes, I have one waiting." always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of the house with me." late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found papers must be those that are destroyed.' the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "But what is it you wish?" his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to kindly on the shoulder. imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am yards of it?' anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the you want, then?' vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs relation between them, and what the object of his repeated stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it begin with, and I had not got mine yet." that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to them present such singular features as the strange train of was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "By no means." penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you woman who has had her own way to make in the world. the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me your room." thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very that?' woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. The events in question occurred in the early days of my shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "Dr. Becher's." the Red-headed League." "'I shall certainly be there.' "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "I will try. What is it?" reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because prisoner's face. "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "One of his hands." gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "What! You do not mean bodies?" been lifted and conveyed somewhere." when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "My last client of the sort was a king." is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which danger is over." "Always." gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" The events in question occurred in the early days of my He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and a suggestive one." as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by cigars in the box." I have it here in my museum." "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "Very. But will he see it?" on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "But you can know nothing of this?" paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." horse could go." coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I the very morning of the wedding." contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. occurred." wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "In which, sir?" small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my could go. served to weaken the effect. For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "Why, what do you mean?" unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "That was it, sir." King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's hurried away. with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the