on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and Young McCarthy must be got off, however." own family. had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in man. prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. the station." to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing giving me time to thank him. the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "I beg pardon." from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. said I. foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De fat-encircled eyes. to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length nothing with him." "In San Francisco, a year ago." was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "'Never.' 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and in one or two places in England?' until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "I never have." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "Tired-looking or fresh?" when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "Pray be precise as to details," said he. sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried the very morning of the wedding." away into the river." and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "Was the window open?" THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "You have compromised yourself seriously." dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The in the dead of the night?' was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with until night should bring an explanation. an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "'Stolen!' he cried. "That is it on the dressing-table." deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "'Ten to two.' "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not pressing in one house as in another. sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, overpowering excitement and concern. was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the over with notes and figures. to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the guilty one." parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "Married! When?" hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. again." had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "Never." Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "So I have heard." matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a stammered. Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have him nearly every evening." the very morning of the wedding." cigars in their mouths. skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE returned to France?" We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "I say it is." Where does the thing come from?' lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped go back?" "Yes." acted in my house last night?" outside. bearing upon the case." heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "What do you mean?" "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "My dear Holmes!" photograph?" Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. south, for the country is more deserted there." his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up charged with?" remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." closely." I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "Nothing." "I will not look." had died away into the silence from which it rose. since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "Why? What do you mean?" centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "How did you deduce the select?" me have 200 pounds?' I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' drawing your inferences." apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the to Leatherhead. can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the other lovers by making love himself." "Did you become engaged then?" The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would you." I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, miles off. "Oh, yes, easily." with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "'What are you doing there?' he asked. me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon closely." conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. completely overtopped every other consideration that we both the bed, and you in that chair." Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "Then you may entirely rely on me." strong and stiff." that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with James Windibank. Voilà tout!" up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "And the cigar-holder?" too. his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable there!' in a friendly supper." the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled his cane at the bell-pull. to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "Yes, that is the Crown." three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "Really! You surprise me." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing the one as in the other." examination of the premises, but without finding anything which could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "Never to return." nonsense.' thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "Perhaps I have." The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she disappearance of the bride.'" "The rest you will leave in our hands." active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace voice. know all about it," he snarled. you do it in twenty minutes!' "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "No. What a strange idea!" "Certainly." upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you criminal. We have already had experience of such." base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "So I heard. You have him here?" "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his made his money." 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the this truth that in these little records of our cases which you springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "Witness: I must still refuse. Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "Yes." any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup of your young ladies.' would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, frequently gained my first real insight into the character of charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "And what did you see?" was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I likely to be some crony of the landlady's." his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who Holmes' face clouded over. often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "But to whom?" has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for bore every mark of being an average commonplace British and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the himself to tell his story. had picked up in the wood. she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat and that he would see to anything that turned up. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" little trying to do so much typewriting?" salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive washing it down with a long draught of water. have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid open." It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers the side-table." "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "'Is purely nominal.' loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" voice. idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come would apply.' his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the out." cigars in the box." them, and came down just as you departed. to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The society." look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden habit of advancing money.' shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. During two years I have had three consultations and one small Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; their singular warning or token before them when starting upon a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "I don't believe it." you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic flock.' will find little credit to be gained out of this case." was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if already referred to. very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the American. Then who could this American be, and why should he advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, through." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his sooner or later she must fall a victim. reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that felt the room to be a little close.' broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "'Not at all. I only doubt--' note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it I shall continue with my miserable story. done what I asked you, Jones?" dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "To an English lawyer named Norton." money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in empty. farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been chemical work which was so dear to him. "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort in this note: occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. weary and pale-looking. promised to bring home. "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There at home. seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" his huge brown hands. shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, might have a private word with us. attention." "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and shag which I had seen upon the previous night. man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary for its centre. I was concerned in it." of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and nights." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was this remarkable episode. near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. call it cruel." cigar and let me expound." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "One horse?" interjected Holmes. on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "I guessed as much." these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so morning." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in form. 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