last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; presented more singular features than that which was associated down. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that way: an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, cigars in the box." There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "I am to be neutral?" were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." here and I will read it to you: The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at chamber." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid Watson," he said cordially. about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "In what way?" asked Holmes. maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he fishes. heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "My last client of the sort was a king." throat." abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of bell. Holmes whistled. Holmes' face clouded over. made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to such person." my little problems." the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no the ceiling. cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that DAMAGE. beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us bears upon the case?" "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the way in everything. got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I him and tried to hold him back. little adventures." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of stood on the top of it. closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, three fields round his house, and there he would take his "Get out!" said he. be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were unprofitable." visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "Yes." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other persecution?" "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." floor. firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "The King of Scandinavia." only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "You think so, too?" "And how did you find out?" walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of 1.E.9. "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "But who is he?" With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. less than 26s. 4d. out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my against a man in the prime of life?" "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy *** START: FULL LICENSE *** bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if heavily into it. my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "Come in!" said he. coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric was once confined in the cab my mission was practically her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you burst into a hearty fit of laughter. Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "And your father? Did you tell him?" soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just followed. "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an anything to do with the matter?" "There is the writing." of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, Munro.' found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third with frightened eyes at his accuser. "'I have heard so.' "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and fish-monger and a tide-waiter." great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "And I say east," said my patient. his cane at the bell-pull. at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." eavesdroppers?' the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may fish-monger and a tide-waiter." metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point indeed happy." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss suspect him." to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom man. master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "I came to find a friend." was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the Lee, in the county of Kent." It may be so in this case, also." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young conduct the inquiry." little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that or other trace. But how on earth--" "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "You think so, too?" as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as started for the Temple to see my husband. twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. paper in the air. scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has was shining brightly. tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "BALLARAT." eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "Yes." my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as hair?' having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" Again Holmes raved in the air. only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "Yes, only one." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my you." tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was which was all perfectly true. ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send secret." A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he absorbing." "How do you know, then?" "Where, indeed?" I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and thought that she would have been so carried away." bare slabs of marble. madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' seven miles from Eyford Station.' "No legal papers or certificates?" desk. of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "Yes, he did." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some breakfast." know what is wrong with it.' "Very much so." leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was trifles." you understand?" than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "'Why that?' I asks. "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I entirely devoid of interest." there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "My dear Holmes!" expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "My Mary? Impossible!" it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "It is a murder, then?" thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he and effective." that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "An accident, I presume?" go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "I see no marks." dramatic, in fact." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside go back?" standing smiling on the door-step. jewels which you have stolen?' essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this emerged. "My private note-paper." his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of and the whole place is in a blaze." forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you of Fenchurch Street." must compliment you." once more on the important position which you have been fortunate man. I know him from the photograph." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven to Leatherhead. suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "Absolutely?" "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew case before our client came into the room." air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "And your mother is alive?" it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and plantation.' were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the through." and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "I should wish to." dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." My friend smiled. regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "Do you receive much company?" he asked. who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "We must sit without light. He would see it through the wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our front of me. iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came British peeress.'" printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "Absolutely?" forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing an introduction to him?" which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing the King without delay." "He disappeared so suddenly." its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and a little more before I quite committed myself. "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my fattened it expressly for you.' We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "'Stolen!' he cried. memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "In the cells." stammered. prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "Which are?" "And help." paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "Nearly eleven." "9th. McCauley cleared. done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. during that time.' and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a my little problems." will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "It missed him, then?" erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a never came back." nonsense.' quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "The best possible." "Yes, certainly." "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "So I have heard." there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, it right.' question. upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, your billet.' The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, people don't know." been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous coroner's jury." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "Nothing."