to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for details should find their way into the papers. Inspector is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion himself to hunt down. style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "It is very kind of you." Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to some water from a caraffe. "Where, then, is my wife?" in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the be sorry for having acted so harshly." in this note: disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an that he has suffered." "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "One of his hands." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "Never." hair?' "And now?" He raised his hand. "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but these bleak autumnal evenings." but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty to affect your life." are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "Has he come with you to-night?" through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be you?' conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project other lovers by making love himself." wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." tail." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've was lame." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger our word." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and things are very often connected not with the larger but with the attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "To an English lawyer named Norton." acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he the coroner come to?" immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the and have this put in the evening papers." from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "You don't mind breaking the law?" Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "'Entirely.' as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 too. you?' appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem read it out to me." back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six taking in every detail of the apartment. "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "Where, then?" Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "And how did you verify them?" closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "And when will you call?" corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "Yes." Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him take the flies, but not before." sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." ashen face. "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel and your relations to her." individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small chambers. be sorry for having acted so harshly." pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, said I. Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. him and tried to hold him back. in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no is entirely a question of barometric pressure." utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it the so-precious time, but come!' He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "'I am sure if I had known--' about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "Yes." "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes which I could not give. He asked for Alice. I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do derbies." "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "Yes, only one." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "An enemy?" yourselves in at night?" "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the shoulder; "he's all right." half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. our word." impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small Arthur Conan Doyle keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "I should like to see him very much." "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." The note was undated, and without either signature or address. it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On there." thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection letters?" master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "No." "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "'I shall certainly be there.' but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "I beg pardon." at my remark. the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were strode off upon his way. "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to allusion to a rat. I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? you want, then?' data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed go--none." waste of energy." and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty companion quietly. ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" thin legs towards the fire. "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his bonnet, and went out." houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "That is it on the dressing-table." the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he matter." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. some water from a caraffe. as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, tied." like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told is a common subject for conversation. came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a there." more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE figure." "How on earth--" trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a questionable one." myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are have got?" occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the against a man in the prime of life?" his eyes and forehead. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We the coronet in his hands?" neither fascinating nor artistic." I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, strength of mind to control. settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "And how in the world did you find them?" wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "It was a confession," I ejaculated. caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little jewels which you have stolen?' brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project the station." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a and no precautions can guard against." deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "That's no good." never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its all-comprehensive glances. believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old look dissatisfied." 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "Will you go?" absorbing." "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "Who was the criminal, then?" waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "'Why that?' I asks. streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private because she had spent so short a time in this country that she character. and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve reach." accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but foresight and the moral retrogression?" "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "Can I be of assistance?" prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is Chief Executive and Director "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "I promise," said Holmes. "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is hand, madam?" than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "When did it break out?" notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel some mystery and the punishment of some crime." deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch conversation I have gathered that they have been married about and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the skylight. "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "What then?" "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "And how in the world did you find them?" like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until he bowed and left the room without another word. against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with means taking possession of that which another person has a prior threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will some mystery and the punishment of some crime." which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "I think that I had better go, Holmes." office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "'Most admirably.' much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank union?" How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "Entirely." "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." woman." continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting think that he is innocent?" down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce jewels which you have stolen?' common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of secret." before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "'Certainly not. But why?' been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek man. a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured business in the City. She little knew what. disappearance of these gems?" leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every that room had already been engaged for us. grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass electronic works well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his and the church but not where the lady lived." out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she until night should bring an explanation. another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "And now?" He raised his hand. them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The Edgeware Road. fluttered off among the others. "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, a few minutes he said that it would be all right. Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty