"And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they so.' of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "Ten will be early enough." "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ there when the Rucastles went away." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" said he. TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: my former friend and companion. exactly what you advise." the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "It is very clear." computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, how narrow had been my escape. yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had you." Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "Not I." from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "You have carte blanche." which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had her also." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting to some other building. had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush arrested. You then--" "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile to his chemical studies. afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "It certainly sounds feasible." his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "Yesterday." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of John Swain, of St. Augustine. he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "You have it, sir, just as it happened." have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "You have a clue?" Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty golden eyeglasses. "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and kindly on the shoulder. "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "'I shall certainly be there.' I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward only touch the interest." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my note?" It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet locked." down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "It is true that I have been generally successful." "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to until night should bring an explanation. For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black spare." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than trifles." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that tell them apart.' frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "Nearly eleven." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his the iron safe, which he closed upon it. was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would said he, "my real name is James Ryder." the King without delay." were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, bearing upon the case." "And how in the world did you find them?" Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "I should wish to." "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, cigar and let me expound." reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might putting in the horse. about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is definite end. without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face cigars in their mouths. ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay shag which I had seen upon the previous night. has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at in darkness. "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be true." examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was girl said." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, wanted for ourselves." jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about voice, changing her seat as requested. Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." yet." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. you, my dear young lady?' "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent children over to America with him, so that I found myself without 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this politicians who had been sent down from the North. and glanced through. "Look there!" said he. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some of it with the greatest attention. if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. wedding?" gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "And from a noble client?" "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding amused." has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but down in his armchair and closing his eyes. decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but Does that suggest anything?" and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "Why? What do you mean?" "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, not within a twentieth part of the market price." This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." already been minutely examined." works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg cigars in the box." or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of that I am arrested." was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "No, I think that I'll take it." "My stepfather's business papers." plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the forehead. surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first meanly of me." "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before not fit the lock." protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. from you?" "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "Her father is very rich?" very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that woman." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "Your sister is dead, then?" mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which delirious. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "He might." with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre fuss that is made over them." third from London." studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up arrested. You then--" At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you was not a bird to be seen there. through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "I think it very unlikely." the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "And what then?" companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE bell. Holmes whistled. least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "Yes, that is the Crown." "Not I." "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. whether it answered to the description of any of their dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "How are you getting on?" lost his Christmas dinner." Leadenhall Street--and--" "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "9th. McCauley cleared. drove away. Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "I see no marks." not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was in this note: in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "That is also quite modern," said the lady. finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "But I have heard all that you have heard." without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," ago." "An accident, I presume?" "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down locked." insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from breakfast?" an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could thin, with a long, sharp nose?" whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late of Fenchurch Street." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little as noiselessly as she had come. evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "He is dead," cried several voices. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw she used." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible skylight. "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "In which, sir?" "I cannot as yet see any connection." I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very question you as to those details which seem to me to be most gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass thirty. and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "I cannot as yet see any connection." crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small few hundred pounds.' which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "You have but to name it." "But your client--" "Certainly." "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "I cannot imagine." waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her